EUCHARIST AS THANKSGIVING
As we look forward to celebrating Thanksgiving Day, it is good to remember that, as Catholics, giving thanks is not just an occasional practice but the core of who we are. The celebration of the Eucharist, which you will remember means “thanksgiving”, is at the heart of our life together. At our best, we are a people of thanksgiving. As we pray in every Mass, “It is truly right and just, our duty and our salvation, always and everywhere to give you thanks…” Or, as St. Paul expressed in the First Letter to the Thessalonians, “In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.”
In all circumstances, always and everywhere to give thanks. That is our call and our challenge. I know I struggle with it. I also know that, when I do live with gratitude, everything changes. A simple prayer, “Thank you, Lord, for this opportunity to grow” can transform a difficult situation into a moment of grace. Writing a list of blessings at the end of the day often opens my eyes to the ways God was with me, though I may not have recognized it at the time. These and other simple practices help me to make thanksgiving more a way of life. And the more I do, the more I find to be thankful for. I encourage you to embrace these simple, daily practices and find your own so that we can, always, everywhere and in all things (even the difficult ones!), give thanks to God.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Fr. Michael